Basal and meal-stimulated pepsinogen secretion in preterm infants: a longitudinal study.

In order to establish longitudinal normal values for basal and meal-stimulated pepsinogen secretory function in preterm infants, we studied 44 preterm infants with gestational ages of 28-36 weeks during the period of nasogastric tube feeding. Three age groups were evaluated: gestational ages of 28-30, 31-33, and 34-36 weeks. Basal pepsinogen did not change with postnatal age in any of the groups. Significant meal-stimulated pepsinogen secretion appeared during the third postnatal week in infants of 28-30 weeks of gestation. In the groups of infants of 31-33 and 34-36 weeks of gestation, significant meal-stimulated pepsinogen secretion was apparent in the first postnatal week. This study suggests that maturation of pepsinogen secretion appears at 31 weeks of gestation, independent of early feeding.